Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Anaheim, CA

For one person, living is cheaper in Austin, TX: $2,607 a month against $3,531 in Anaheim, CA, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX, United States
Anaheim, CA, United States
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,607
/mo nomad
Anaheim, CA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,531
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Anaheim, CA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Anaheim, CA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,607 per month in Austin, TX vs $3,531 in Anaheim, CA, rent included.

  • Austin, TX $2,607
  • Anaheim, CA $3,531

A couple spends around $4,031 per month in Austin, TX vs $4,931 in Anaheim, CA, rent included.

  • Austin, TX $4,031
  • Anaheim, CA $4,931

A family of three spends $5,454 per month in Austin, TX vs $6,331 in Anaheim, CA, rent included.

  • Austin, TX $5,454
  • Anaheim, CA $6,331

Austin, TX is about 26% cheaper than Anaheim, CA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Austin, TX and Anaheim, CA sit above the global median – Austin, TX by 92%, Anaheim, CA by 159%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Anaheim, CA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.35 $20.35
$24.64 $24.64
-17.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.7 $84.7
$79.0 $79.0
7.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$16.38 $16.38
-26.01%
Cappuccino
$5.65 $5.65
$5.68 $5.68
-0.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 $3.68
$3.08 $3.08
19.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 $2.36
$2.32 $2.32
1.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.87 $7.87
$7.30 $7.30
7.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.82 $8.82
$9.78 $9.78
-9.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Anaheim, CA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.14 $1.14
$1.26 $1.26
-9.52%
White Bread (500g)
$3.69 $3.69
$5.19 $5.19
-28.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.31 $3.31
$4.80 $4.80
-31.04%
Eggs
$4.15 $4.15
$5.79 $5.79
-28.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.98 $12.98
$15.19 $15.19
-14.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.86 $13.86
$18.11 $18.11
-23.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.34 $16.34
$15.37 $15.37
6.31%
Apples (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$4.95 $4.95
-5.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$2.40 $2.40
-39.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.11 $5.11
$4.13 $4.13
23.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.52 $4.52
$5.48 $5.48
-17.52%
Potato (1kg)
$3.08 $3.08
$3.60 $3.60
-14.44%
Onion (1kg)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.26 $2.26
5.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.80 $1.80
$2.16 $2.16
-16.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.22 $2.22
$1.91 $1.91
16.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.97 $9.97
$11.55 $11.55
-13.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.05 $15.05
$14.75 $14.75
2.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.91 $2.91
$1.91 $1.91
52.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33 $3.33
$4.27 $4.27
-22.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Anaheim, CA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.22 $1.22
$2.04 $2.04
-40.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.53 $40.53
$68.4 $68.4
-40.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.78 $2.78
$6.42 $6.42
-56.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.65 $1.65
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.39 $35.39
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 $0.95
$1.57 $1.57
-39.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K $34.2K
$28.5K $28.5K
20.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K $26.8K
$26.7K $26.7K
0.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Anaheim, CA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$223 $223
$171 $171
30.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.5 $58.5
$67.3 $67.3
-13.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$73.8 $73.8
-3.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Anaheim, CA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.0 $53.0
$78.9 $78.9
-32.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.75 $16.75
$10.09 $10.09
66.01%
Cinema Ticket
$14.06 $14.06
$17.95 $17.95
-21.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Anaheim, CA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$1,169 $1,169
24.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.3K $21.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Anaheim, CA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.5 $52.5
$58.1 $58.1
-9.70%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.75 $42.75
$39.29 $39.29
8.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$86.4 $86.4
$106 $106
-18.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 $104
$147 $147
-29.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Anaheim, CA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,112 $2,112
$2,292 $2,292
-7.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 $1,230
$2,004 $2,004
-38.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,863 $3,863
$2,794 $2,794
38.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,407 $2,407
$2,928 $2,928
-17.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,426 $7,426
$7,576 $7,576
-1.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,060 $3,060
$6,002 $6,002
-49.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Anaheim, CA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,179 $5,179
$4,074 $4,074
27.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.82
6.39
6.73%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: October 26, 2026

Last update for Anaheim, CA: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.2K
Anaheim, CA
$2K 62.9% $774
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$410
Anaheim, CA
$467 13.9% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$353
Anaheim, CA
$312 11.4% $40
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Anaheim, CA
$392 12.6% $44
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$128
Anaheim, CA
$158 22.7% $29
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$81
Anaheim, CA
$115 41.4% $34
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$56
Anaheim, CA
$83 * 47% $27

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,112 in Austin, TX versus $2,292 in Anaheim, CA. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 27% higher in Austin, TX, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $85 in Austin, TX versus $79 in Anaheim, CA. Groceries tell a different story – $410 in Austin, TX vs $467 in Anaheim, CA – so Austin, TX wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇺🇸 Anaheim, CA
🕒 Local time
15:35 3:35 PM
13:35 1:35 PM
2 h behind Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
350,742
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.11 USD (1 USD = 0.898 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Anaheim, CA 1,930 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Anaheim, CA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Austin, TX vs Anaheim, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Anaheim, CA?
Anaheim, CA costs about 35% more than Austin, TX, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Austin, TX and in Anaheim, CA?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,911 per month in Austin, TX and $5,296 in Anaheim, CA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Anaheim, CA?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $2,112 in Austin, TX and $2,292 in Anaheim, CA. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
Are groceries more expensive in Austin, TX or in Anaheim, CA?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Anaheim, CA, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How do dining costs compare in Austin, TX and in Anaheim, CA?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $85 in Austin, TX and $79 in Anaheim, CA. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Austin, TX or in Anaheim, CA?
$2,000 is a stretch for both – monthly costs hit $2,607 in Austin, TX and $3,531 in Anaheim, CA. You’ll need shared housing and careful budgeting no matter which city you pick.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Anaheim, CA?
It depends on your priorities. Anaheim, CA has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $2,607 in Austin, TX to $3,531 in Anaheim, CA. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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